Exclusive Interview: Abby R Mooring (Bonehill)

What first drew you to the script for Bonehill, and what made you say yes to the role?

I auditioned and filmed this in 2023, so this was my first acting job, and I was sending out auditions just hoping to get a job. I first sent in a tape, then I had a meeting with the director and read a scene with him. I thought the meeting went well, and a few weeks later, I got offered the role. It was an easy yes; I was so excited to get the job and bring the character to life.

Can you tell us about your character and what makes her stand out in the world of Bonehill?

I play Laurie Coker, a woman who lives in this small town in Michigan, who gets possessed. I think what makes Laurie stand out in the movie is that she is just a normal person living her life, and this horrible thing happens to her, and she doesn’t understand what’s going on; she’s scared of herself because she can’t control herself when she is possessed.

How did you prepare emotionally and physically for this role?

For certain scenes in the film, I relied on past experiences I had with health anxiety/panic attacks, because I felt that Laurie had anxiety in every scene she wasn’t possessed. I mean, not knowing what’s going on with your body and why it’s happening is scary. What helped me prepare physically was the makeup, hair, and wardrobe. Once I would get all that done, in my case, it really makes you feel like the character.

Was there a particular scene in Bonehill that challenged you the most as an actor?

I think it was my last day, where it was an overnight shoot in the woods. I was running up a hill and through the woods. We also filmed the scene where I got shot that night. So, we filmed pretty much all the physical stuff I had to do in the movie that night. That night ended up being challenging physically.

What was it like collaborating with the director and cast on this project?

I loved collaborating with the director and cast. As I said earlier, it was my first job, so I was nervous about everything. The director was very communicative, I liked to ask how he wanted this scene to go, just cause I wanted to make sure I wasn’t wasting time doing a scene different then how he wanted. I really loved the cast as well. I didn’t have that much dialogue throughout the movie, but I loved being on set with them. All of them were super sweet and professional.

Horror/thriller films (if applicable to Bonehill) often rely on atmosphere—how did the set environment impact your performance?

Yeah, the environment is like another character in my opinion. I shot all on location, a doctor’s office, an abandoned school, and the woods. The school and the woods were creepy, so being there and doing the scene made you feel like you were dropped into this world, which was cool.

Did you draw from any personal experiences to connect with your character?

Yes, I did. I have some Native American in my family, similar to Laurie. As I said earlier, I feel like when Laurie is not possessed, she is running on anxiety, and I have a lot of experience with that.

What do you hope audiences take away from watching Bonehill?

I hope audiences have a good time watching the movie, and it makes them feel something, whether it’s good or bad.
One moment that stands out is when we were shooting in the woods, and the director, Daniel, wanted my hair to be messier, so he grabbed a handful of dirt and rubbed it all over my head. It was gross at the time, but it’s funny to look back on.

How does your role in Bonehill differ from previous characters you’ve portrayed, and what did it teach you as an actor?

This is the only horror character I have played and the first role I had, so I had nothing to compare it to at the time. It definitely taught me that roles like this are emotionally and physically demanding. What I learned from the film is that on set, you should be kind to everyone and be well prepared, because the director, cast, and crew have the same goal, which is to make a movie.